OSHA cites local firm in worker's death

A Southwest Ohio company where a Butler County welder was electrocuted has been cited for nine safety violations by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

OSHA issued the violations involving electrical safe work practices against Metal Shredders Inc. of Miamisburg, Montgomery County. Authorities say 33-year-old Geoffrey Garnett, of Somerville, died of electrocution Oct. 16, 2014. OSHA says Metal Shredders failed to protect the welder from an energized electrical line while he was cutting a metal roof off a transformer station.

The agency proposed penalties of $115,000 for Metal Shredders and $21,000 for its Middletown parent company, Cohen Brothers Inc. OSHA cited Cohen for three serious safety violations for failing to train employees in electrical safe work practices.

A statement from Cohen says the companies dispute the citations, calling them incorrect and unfounded.

Cohen ranked 25th on the 2014 Deloitte Cincinnati USA 100 list of the region's largest privately held companies. It had 2013 revenues of $487 million and 480 employees.

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